A $1 billion profit in its first quarter led to a surge in Amazon’s stock price at the end of April, giving the online giant a 11.1% increase in its share price last month. Led by Amazon, the Publishers Weekly Stock Index rose 8% in the month. Excluding Amazon, the PWSI increased by a much more modest 0.2%, almost equal to the 0.4% gain posted by the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Donnelley, which is in the process of splitting itself into three companies, had a 6.1% gain in its stock price in the month. Pearson had the biggest decline in its share price as the company continues to reorganize its business. Barnes & Noble stock price continued its recent history of volatility, dropping 4.9% in April after rising 27.4% in March. Late in April, B&N chairman Len Riggio said he plans to retire in September.

Winners
Company Mar. 31 Apr. 29 % Change
Amazon 593.64 659.59 11.1%
R.R. Donnelley 16.40 17.40 6.1%
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 19.94 20.51 2.8%
CBS 55.09 55.91 1.5%
John Wiley 48.89 49.59 1.4%
Educational Dev. Corp. 14.03 14.12 0.6%
Losers
Pearson 12.54 11.74 -6.3%
Barnes & Noble 12.36 11.75 -4.9%
Scholastic 37.37 36.38 -2.6%
News Corp 13.25 12.96 -2.2%
Publishers Weekly Stock Index 823.51 889.95 8.0%
Dow Jones Aver. 17,685.09 17,773.84 0.4%

Source: Publishers Weekly